EBME Forums Forums Management Equipment Libraries Quick survey-Equipment Libraries

I have recently been appointed the Medical Equipment Manager for the York Trust, part of the remit is to look at libraries. Has anyone collated a list of which hospitals use which type of library system, paper, software, virtual, real ETC. If not I would be interested in a quick summary of the different types of sytem you all use. Maybe you could also indicate the software you use if appropriate

Thanks

Peter

Hi Peter,

Expect an avalanche of postings on this; quite a few hospitals in the country now have established libraries running.
Our library has been running for about 6 months. It comes under my remit as Medical Engineering Manager, although it's "owned' by the Nursing Directorate so any problems we go straight to the Nursing Director. We have an Equipment Librarian to look after the library. At the moment we are administering the equipment movements with a part paper, part Access based system. This seems to work quite well.

If you want a copy of our policy email me and I'll send you one.

Regards

Paul.

We have an equipment library and dedicated database (oakleaf).

Our librarian works 8-5 and the porters run the service out of hours. We have a motion detection camera (about £60 from RS) connected to the computer, which has helped stop equipment from going missing. (Porters not filling out the forms)

Our librarian is a Senior assistant tecnical officer, and her responsibilities include collection and delivery.

Our library is 'active' from 08.30-17.00)porters any other times).
The librarian is graded at A&C 4, our mattresses(PRM's) are maintained by a bloke graded at A&C 3.
Then there's me, MTO3. I'm based in the equipment library(more space and it helps to keep equipment down-time to a minimum).
Our library software, ELMAN, is provided by Campbell Systems.
Each piece of equipment has a removable card attached. These are used for signing the equipment out.
The library is a part of the Medical Electronics dept.

cheers

Our Equipment Library has been up and running for nearly 18 months now. I'm in charge of running it as an Equipment Library Officer (SATO) backed up by another ELO and 2 porters. Office hours are 8 - 4.30pm at all other times our Theatre Porters provide cover.

We use SEMS which incorporates a Library Module, it works really well and enables us to extract very specific data. Out of hours a 'T' card system is used and updated on SEMS the next working day.

If you need more detailed info then just email me.

Our equipment library is part of the Clinical Engineering Services. There are 4 staff, some part time, to cover 2 sites working 8-4.30. Out of hours users can use their ID badge to gain access and sign out equipment. SEMS is used to track equipment location.

John

Do you have a RS Cat number for that motion camera?
Sounds like an excellent idea.

Chris-H

Our library works 8 - 5 with a nurse who trawls round the various wards twice a day looking for out of use/broken equip. We started off using a card based tracking system but apart from the trouble getting people to fill them out, once the equipment was in use it went from ward to ward and so was not trackable. The only item still tracked religoiusly is MS16A syringe drivers, used for diamorphine, as these tend to go home with people.
I am based in the equip. lib. repairing/servicing equip., keeping an equipment register up to date (part of a Segi-Server system run by theatres), Safety Testing new and loan equipment, and running my own breakdown and servicing database (a Data-Ease self developed system which keeps a history of faults/work done on items of equipment)

Our library was set up March to June 1998, and opened on 10 June 1998. The staff have recently been regraded from SATO to MTO2 to reflect the workload. It was surmised that the library would have around 250 loans per month - I think the lowest ever was around 350 - the average is around 600.
The library staff loan all of the basic kit (pulse Ox, ECG, IV pump, Syringe, nebs, etc.). The staff PPM all of the kit, they also operate a neb/CPAP 'clinic', where nebs/CPAPs are PPM'd, loan out beds, and operate two satellite services - one in A&E, and one in a private hospital nearby. All of the kit is tested and cleaned before it is put back on the shelf for reuse. Loan figures are accurately monitored.
The library is staffed 0830-1700 wk, and 0830-1200 Sat. There is a 'Library ticket' affair in place for out-of-hours use.
There really is a huge amount of work, but I have to say that we are very proud of how efficiently the equipment library runs. It is a credit to the department, and to the guys who run it on a day-to-day basis.

Chris,
The camera we bought was similar to this one, It appears RS are no longer doing the same one, but this will do the same job. (so long as you have a PC in the Library)
see: 326-9561 £69.95

There are others:
PC connected cameras